Presser foot for shoe stitching machines



Oct. 1, 1935. w. c. RE 2,015,965

PRESSER FOOT FOR SHOE STITCHING MACHINES Filed Dec. 4, 1929 4 AMI 11's Ara/1W5):

Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESSER' FOOT FOR SHOE STITCHING MACHINES 3 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for operating on shoes and the like, the invention being more particularly related to an improved presser foot device for use in connection with shoe stitching machines.

The device of the present invention isillustrated as associated with the mechanism of the Goodyear stitching machine of the kind now in general use.

The invention has for an object the provision of an improved construction of the above character, one capable of performing its work in an effective and expeditious manner, and one which will obviate some of the objections at present prevailing in the types of devices employed in operating on stitched down shoes.

More particularly, the invention has in view the provision of a device of the character referred to and in a manner as hereinafter described, by which effectively to accomplish the following purposes:( 1) to provide a device in the nature of an attachment, adapted readily and conveniently to be applied to the well-known type of stitching machines as referred to; (2) to provide a device capable of functioning as a stitch and sole leveler; (3) to provide a device having the function of an anvil-like guard to aid the operator in maintaining the sole on the table of the machine in a practically true relative horizontal position which is important and desirable in better class work; and (4) to provide a device whereby to press back into the sole any ends or portions of wire staples which at times are pushed up through the sole by the awl of the stitching machine.

It may be remarked that as now stitched with the old presser foot, shoes are frequently found to have the ends of the wire staples protruding from the bottom of the sole. Such protruding ends frequently tear or cut the fingers of the operators; With my improved presser foot, the shoe is leveled and the projecting ends of the wire staples are embedded in the sole at a single operation in connection with the stitching.

The presser foot of the present invention may take various forms, the preferred embodiment comprising a unitary structure composed of a perforated plate adapted to be secured to the usual presser foot lever, there being a lateral bar extending from the perforated plate and carry-- ing an outwardly and forwardly extending presser part or foot adapted normally to project over and beyond the usual stitching table of the machine.

According to another novel and convenient embodiment, the perforated plate, lateral bar and presser bar or foot may be produced as two hinge connected parts, with the provision of spring means for forcing the bar or foot into strong yielding contact with the sole ofthe shoe when stitching.

According to a further novel and convenient 5 embodiment, the perforated plate and lateral bar are produced as a one-piece structure, and to the end of the bar is applied a forwardly extending pin carrying a sleeve roller. Besides these specifi cally enumerated features, the invention involves 10 other features of advantage which will be apparent to those skilled in the shoe-making art, and it will be understood that I do not limit myself to the exact configuration and arrangement herein disclosed, since in practice I may resort to 15 at many alterations and refinements in carrying out the invention.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention resides in the improved presser 20% foot and leveler and in the form, construction and relative arrangement or arrangements'of its parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

Several simple and practical embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which forms a material part of this application, and in which:

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary perspective view showing my improved presser foot as it appears when attached to the presser foot lever of a Goodyear stitching machine and in position for service;

Fig. 2 represents a side elevational view of the presser foot with a portion of a shoe in cross section as is also the stitching table of the machine, all in operative position;

Fig. 3 represents a detailed front elevational view of the improved presser foot;

Figs. 4 and 5 represent front and top views, respectively, of a modified form of the improved presser foot, showing a two-part construction with a spring; and

Figs. 6 and 7 represent front and top views, respectively, of another modified form of the improved presser foot in which a roller is employed.

Referring with more: particularity to the accompanying drawing, and first to the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2, l0 designates a presser foot lever of the kind customarily used on a Goodyear stitching machine (for example, the Goodyear outsole rapid lock stitch machine, Model 0, catalogue published-June 11, 1927), while II desig- I nates the usual gauge or supporting table having therein the usual longitudinal slot l2 for the accommodation of the awl I3 and needle l4 during the stitching operations. I

An embodiment of the improved presser foot of this invention is indicated generically by the numeral l6 and is illustrated as comprising a plate or portion having threaded perforations l8 adapted to receive suitable sorewbolts l9 whereby to' be secured as shown to the lever is of the machine. Extending laterally from the plate IT is an integral bar 2|) which is furnished at its outer end with an outwardly or forwardly projecting presser foot and leveler 2|. The parts of the device are so fashioned and arranged that when the plate I! is secured to the lever Iil, the bar 2|! and the presser foot and leveler 2| will'be positioned above the table H, with the bar extending in a direction longitudinally of the table adjacent one side of the vertical plane in which the slot |2 lies and so as not to interfere with the usualmovements of the awl and needle through the slot, while the presserfoot and leveler extends in a direction transversely of the table in a.

transverse vertical plane adjacent the rear end of the slot where it will not interfere with the movements of the awl and needle and where it will act upon the stitches 2|a exposed at the underside of the sole 2 lb. It will be appreciatedthat as thelever ||l vibrates rapidly up and down, the device of my invention will vibrate with it so that the exposed portions of the stitches will be hammered into the sole and made substantially even or level with the surface thereof. It. is well known that the number of stitches produced in the sole is usually from eight to ten to the inch, and also that during the sewing operation the upward awl thrusts tend'to move the sole upwardly from the table. The width of the underneath striking or contacting'face of the part 2| is equal to or greater than the combined length of a number of stitches (for instance, four or fivestitches), and under the rapid vibrating action, the exposed portions of several stitches are at one time pressed or hammered under each impact, so that under the usual stitching movement of the sole which is relatively slow in comparison with the rapid vibrating action of the leveler the exposed portion of each stitch over the full'length thereof will be repeatedly subjected to the hammering impact.

Operating against the hammering impact exerted downwardly is an upwardly exerted impact produced by the thrusts of the awl, so that the stitches are always substantially in contact with the part 2| and under the twoforces operating against each other from opposite directions. This results in completely leveling the stitching as well as any of the material of the sole displaced up- I wardly asa result of the thrusts of the awl.

In Fig. 2, I illustrate the sole of a shoe interposedfor thesewing operation between the table and the device of my invention. The shoe fractionally shown at a is of course held in inverted position in the usual way, with the marginal side portion a of the sole structure adjacent the upper a superposed upon the table II. The bar 20 and the presser foot and leveler 2| operate upon the underside. of. the outer sole 2|b' which, of course, is presentedface upward since the shoe is inverted." V

The bar 20 operates uponthe marginal portion of the sole lengthwise thereof and at the outer side of the paths of the awl and needle working 75;- through the slot. The presser foot and'leveler 2| and down in the usual way, and with the result that the parts 20 and 2| are vibrated in their respective positions upon the underside of the sole. This vibration is necessary in order to allow the feeding movement of the shoe for sewing the sole all around its marginal edge. The vibrating parts 23 and 2| hold the sole to the table against upward movement under the thrusts of the awl. In cooperation with the table I the parts 2!] and 2| tend to maintain the shoe in horizontal position. Said angularly related parts 28] and 2| serve in the capacity of anvil-like guards for the sole so as to prevent upward movement thereof under the upward thrusts of'the awl through the sole structure; and in addition to this function they tend to maintain the sole operatively in place so as to prevent the breaking of the needles.

' With the aid of said parts 20 and 2| in the arrangement shown, the operator can readily present and maintain the sole of the shoe in the desired horizontal position where the stitching will be accomplished with accuracy, neatness and dispatch. The device also serves as a stitch and sole leveler. In use, as shown in'Fig. 2, the presser foot 2| extends inwardly of the sole well beyond the stitches 2|a which are exposed at the underside of the sole 2|b along the marginal edge thereof. As the stitching proceeds, the presser foot operates upon the sole so as to have a leveling action thereon and as well upon the exposed stitches which are leveled in conformity with the will be engaged by the presser foot 2| and pressed back into the sole so as to be embedded therein.

7 In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing, a two-piece presser foot is disclosed, in which the plate portion H is made with spaced apart ears 22 carrying a cross pin 22'. Arranged upon the pin 22 so as to have relative swinging movement thereon and between the ears 22 is the head end 23 of a 5 bar 24 carrying the outwardly or forwardly projecting presser bar or foot 25. Coiled about the pin 22 between the head 23 and one of the cars 22 is a strong spring 26which places the arm 24 under tension, yieldingly maintaining it and consequently the presser bar or foot 25, at the lower terminal of movement for operating upon the shoe. By this arrangement, the spring 26 yieldingly maintains the bar 25 in contact with the sole of the shoe when stitching. In the employment of said spring, the ears 22 operate as a base point on the underside of the sole, and the parts 24 and 25 possess the advantage of yielding relatively .to said base point so as to follow more closely the configuration of the sole under V the spring urge.

In the embodiment of the invention shown'in Figs. 6 and 7, the plate l1 and bar are represented as produced in one piece, and in the outer end of the bar 20 is secured one end of an (Figs. 6 and 7) being of cylindrical form and extending in their axial direction across the line of stitches, naturally hammer on the stitches along transverse lines or bars of impact, and this action is of course accompanied by additional lines or bars of impact induced by the force moving from the opposite direction and consisting of the eiiective tendency of the sole to have upward impact against the leveling device under the upward thrusts of the awl.

From the foregoing it will be evident that I have produced a simple, practical and inexpensive presser foot and leveler attachment, and one which will eiiectively perform the several functions enumerated in the statement of objects and in the foregoing description. It is to be understood that the terms and expressions employed herein are intended as descriptive only, and in no sense are they to be construed as limitations as regards mechanical equivalents. While I have shown and described several embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that the same are susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

I claim:

1. A presser foot attachment for shoe-stitching machines including a table with an awl and needle slot, said attachment comprising an element for connection with the presser foot lever of the machine, characterized by the combination of two angularly arranged parts adapted to cooperate with the table on which the shoe is stitched and the awl and needle slot of such table, one of said parts consisting of anelongated bar pivotally united at one end to the supporting element and positioned longitudinally of the table and slot to serve as an anvil-like shield preventing upward displacement of the sole under the thrust of the awl during the stitching operation, the second part consisting of a leveler device for acting upon the sole across the line of formed stitches and in such relation to the slot that it Will'be clear of the path of the awl and needle passing through the slot, and spring means acting on the bar and yieldable to permit relative movement thereof when the leveler device acts with suificient force upon the stitches and sole.

2. In combination with a shoe-stitching machine including a table with an awl and needle slot, presser mechanism including a bar extending longitudinally of the table in a position at one side of the vertical plane of the slot, a pin projecting angularly from the bar above the table, and a roller on said pin adapted to turn upon the sole of a shoe rested in inverted position upon the table over the slot, said bar being positioned to act upon the sole at the outerside of the paths of the awl and needle working through the slot, and said pin and roller being so positioned that the roller will clear the path of the awl and needle working through the slot while the roller will level the stitches produced by the needle.

3. A stitch leveling attachment for a shoe sole stitching machine of the class producing raised stitches on the bottom of the sole, the machine having a vibrating presser foot lever and a table with an awl and needle slot, said attachment comprising an element attached to and vibrating with said lever, characterized by the combination of two angularly related parts adapted to cooperate with the table on which the shoe sole is stitched and the awl and needle slot in such table, one of said parts consisting of an elongated bar extending in the direction of its length longitudinally of the table and slot to operate as a top anvil-like shield for the sole whereby to limit upward displacement of the sole under the upward thrust of the awl during the stitching operation, and the other of said parts consisting of a straight leveler device joined at one end at right angles to said bar and extending in the direction of its length transversely of the table and slot entirely across and beyond the line of raised stitches to act directly upon and across the same and upon the sole at either side of the raised stitches so as to flatten and level the raised stitches, while leaving them exposed, upon and to the level of the sole during the operation of the presser foot lever, the inner surface of said element being defined solely by the inner surfaces of said angularly related parts.

WILLIAM C. RE. 

